Women's Hoops Blog

Jayda Evans covers college and pro women's basketball. While its her first year on the Washington beat, she has covered the Storm since its inception. She'll offer observations, critiques, occasional off-beat tales and answers to select e-mail inquires. Evans also has written a book on the Storm and women's hoops, called "Game On!"

The Storm is off today, returning to the practice court on Tuesday to prepare for the week's games against New York and Minnesota. Most of the players expressed relief to be at home for a stretch of three games total to focus on themselves at practice and just relax without the rapid paced schedule they've had to open the season.

Storm F Swin Cash was funny after the win against Washington on Sunday.

"I finally made a layup," she said. The basic move has troubled her in the team's past five games. Cash was 3-for-7 from the field against the Mystics for 10 points. Teammate Sheryl Swoopes was really impressive in finishing 5-of-10 from the field for 11 points. She also had four rebounds, five assists, and two blocked shots.

Someone said in Los Angeles that if this was 2005, the Storm lineup would be fearful. Cash and Swoopes still need to show consistency, but their play against Washington is along the line of 2005 -- at least it is for Swoopes.

The team had a visitor in the locker room in former center Florina Pascalau. She said she's returning to Romania this morning to hopefully play with the national team. No sight of rookie Kimberly Beck, though. She was a cool addition to the locker room and will be missed by her teammates. In fact, G Sue Bird spoke about Beck, who was cut on Saturday, during pregame.

"Kim was a really cool person both on and off the court," Bird said. "She was bummed, definitely upset. At this point in the year, you kind of think 'All right, I'm on the team.' She was sad and what not, but she has plans to play overseas, which will be very good for her."